BEYOND EARTH MONTH: 7 UPCOMING EVENTS THAT IGNITE ACTION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FASHION FUTURE
By: Niki Anastasakis
Just six years shy of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at taking urgent action on climate change, the fashion ecosystem is aiming to create a positive impact on the industry too. With the overproduction of fast fashion and large amounts of energy consumption used to process clothing, the fashion industry contributes to 8%-10% of global C02 emission, according to a 2020 publication by Nature Reviews Earth and Environment. However, the fight against fashion waste is a global movement that everyone can take part in this year. Whether you are an executive at a leading fashion brand holding company trying to champion climate change promises or if perhaps you are an emerging designer attending campaigns and summits around the globe to learn and show your support, there is something for everyone across the fashion spectrum. Below are seven opportunities to learn more about how to take action through eco-friendly fashion initiatives. Start packing and prepare to rise above fashion’s most challenging issues.
Date: May 21-23
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
The summit launched by Global Fashion Agenda in 2009, brings together esteemed leaders from across the fashion ecosystem to dissect and accelerate urgent action for sustainable development goals. You will find the highest level of C-Suite executives in attendance and also on the speaker roster. This year some of the speakers include Christiane Dolva, H&M Foundation's Strategy Lead, Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia Works and Patagonia, Inc. and Halide Alagö, Chief Product Officer at the Ralph Lauren Corporation. The program will focus on informative voices, action-oriented case studies, applicable innovations and transparent learnings. Some of the main topics being discussed this year include Building Circular Systems, Future Fibres and Tackling Transparency. Events organized by Global Fashion Agenda are tailored to foster collaboration on sustainability in fashion to maximize impact.
Date: May 22-24
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Circularity 24’ is a leading conference organized by GreenBiz, a eco-news platform. This event brings together movers and shakers who are working towards building a circular economy. Their growing community of visionaries and practitioners are helping towards accelerating the transition to a cleaner economy. Offering thought provoking keynotes, actionable breakout sessions and solutions, the conference will highlight business innovation, strategy, supply chain transformation, stakeholders and social impact. Some of the topics being addressed include: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for the Circular Economy and The Unseen Intersection of Plastics and Climate.
Date: June 12-13
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
The climate conference launched by Innovation Forum will focus on how businesses can take tangible action to tackle Scope 3 emissions, the carbon emissions indirectly generated by a business. Leaders will highlight company practices and explain how business transformation, supply chain innovation and low-carbon solutions can translate outcomes into tangible actions.
Date: August 19-21, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
MAGIC Las Vegas is not just an event, it is considered the Olympics of Fashion Business Trade Shows. With more than 134,000 attendees over 3 days packed with exclusive collection launches, thought-provoking education panels, engaging networking opportunities, non-stop entertainment, countless happy hours, and trade booths hoping to attract buyers, this is the largest go-to market event. There will be panels, art showcases and various brands showcasing their new collections with an emphasis on social good.
Date: Sept 22 - 29 2024
Location: New York City, United States
Climate week NYC launched by Climate Group in 2009 brings together international leaders from business, government and civil society to raise awareness on climate issues and encourage action to mitigate climate change. At this year's summit, the events program runs across ten event themes including Energy, Environmental Justice, Finance, Food, Health, Heavy Industry, Nature, Policy, Sustainable Living, and Transport.
Date: October 11-12
Location: Toronto, Canada
The WEAR conference was launched by the non–profit Fashion Takes Action in 2007, to bring together global fashion industry stakeholders to learn from leading experts and academics and be inspired to take action. Fashion Takes Action organizes other workshops such as My Clothes My World, aimed at empowering younger generations of fashion consumers to make smart and sustainable purchasing decisions to keep the planet in mind.
2024 Textile Exchange Conference
Date: October, 28-November 31
Location: Pasadena, California, United States
The conference which originated in in Texas in 2002, unites experts from the fashion, textile and apparel sectors together in one place to tackle impending climate crises and come up with solutions for a more sustainable apparel industry. The event, which is attended both in person and virtually also allows attendees to mix and mingle and take field trips to get to the source of material production by meeting with farmers and producers to learn how raw materials impact our ecosystems at the grassroots level.
Cover Image: Trình Minh Thư / @imdauphong